About Truffles

HISTORY OF THE TRUFFLE

People around the world have enjoyed truffles for thousands of years. And other animals have hunted for them for millions of years. The truffle story is one of partnerships – the host tree with its symbiotic fungal friend, the fragrant fruiting fungus with its animal consumers, then the enrichment of the forests in creating living forest ecosystems, more recently in partnership with people.
Desert and Northern Australians enjoyed their indigenous truffles, and this painting by artist Betsy Napangardi Lewis shows.

The most traded valuable culinary truffle in the world today is the French Black Winter Truffle – Tuber melanosporum. Modern European truffle culture has a fascinating history. In fourteenth century France, the then resident Popes banned them (did they observe their powers close-up and decide that this fruit should be forbidden?). Truffles found favour again in the 1800s. The natural forests were “cultivated” with the gathering of firewood and the grazing of animals, creating the ideal environment for the truffle to flourish – sun on the roots in cleared ground, with animals attracted by the aromas to eat the truffles and then spread their spore to then reproduce in the forest.

In 1910, France produced 110 tons of wild truffles but with WW1’s devastation, many French truffle hunters were killed and subsequent massive rural depopulation saw many truffle secrets lost. One hundred years later, French truffle production is perhaps only 40 to 60 tons each year from both wild and cultivated fields and depending on the season; while in Spain, their production is 35 to 65 tons, depending on seasonality.

TRUFFLES IN AUSTRALIA

Australian truffle production has been growing at better than 15% each year, largely due to the success of some early large plantations, and more recently because newer, younger plantations are coming into production. Australia produced more than 10 tons in 2016, so this year’s harvest will be watched with close interest. We’re already the fourth largest truffle growing nation in the world and the future looks promising – maybe we’ll be the second largest truffle producer this or next season? In any event, Australia is now a player in the world of truffles!

The Truffle Melbourne and Truffle Adelaide festivals are organised by truffle grower, Festival Director and truffle judge Nigel Wood. “Our aim is to democratise the truffle and to celebrate this fragrant seasonal ingredient. Truffles are about winter: haunting aromas, unique and memorable experiences" he said. His favourite truffle dish? “Farm scrambled eggs made with truffle infused eggs” – so we made a video for you!

Truffles are an affordable luxury in winter and because their scents are so powerful, only a small amount 3 to 5 grams per person is needed to turn an ordinary dish into something truly amazing. Softer and complementary background flavours allow the truffle to shine. Fats and a little heat carry and release the flavour and aroma best. Cheeses, eggs, pork fat, chicken and root vegetables are perfect truffle partners in the kitchen. And there’s a huge range of the best Australian and European truffle produce at trufflemelbourne.com- our aim is to bring affordable truffle tastes to you.